Saturday, January 26, 2013

Here are the Review Questions for Unit 1. Use them to help prepare you for the Unit 1 open book test next Wednesday (moved from Tuesday).

Lesson 1

1. Name the cardinal directions on a compass rose.

2. How can the lines of latitude and longitude help you locate places on Earth?

3. Define absolute location.

4. Where is San Jose located? Use all of the following terms in a sentence or two to describe its location: absolute location, latitude, longitude.

Lesson 2

1. Describe one way you can divide the Earth into hemispheres and name the hemispheres.

2. What are the tropics?

3. Compare and contrast locations of the North and South Poles.

4. Where is California located? Use all of the following terms in a sentence or two to answer this question: Western Hemisphere, equator, north pole.

Lesson 3
1a. What is the capital of California?
1b. Where is it located?
2. Name the four major regions of California:
3. Complete the following statements:
a. The timber industry can be found mostly in the __________ region.
b. The fishing industry can be found mostly in the __________ region.
c. The mining industry can be found mostly in the __________ region.
d. The farming industry can be found mostly in the __________ region.
4. Pick one region of California. What types of recreational opportunities (things they would do for fun) would people have there?

Lesson 4
1. Create a list of natural resources the Pacific Ocean provides for people who came to settle in California.
2. How did mountain passes help settlers who were traveling to California?
3. Because of their abundance of natural resources, what two regions did most people settle in?

Lesson 5
1. How are urban, suburban, and rural communities alike? Different?
2. Name one type of vegetation and animal that can be found in the following regions:
a. Valley:
b. Desert:
c. Mountain:
d. Coast:
3. Describe the climate in the northern and southern coastal regions.
4. Describe the architecture in Santa Barbara and explain why the buildings are this way.
5. List at least three different forms of transportation people use in and around the city of San Francisco.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

In the Helpful Links tab and in the Language Arts section, you'll find a link to FreeRice. It aims to test and build your vocabulary and as you are doing so, they donate 10 grains of rice per correct answer.Educational philanthropy!Try it today and practice as often as you can: http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary

How many grains can YOU donate?How does it work?

FreeRice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. There are words appropriate for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most scholarly professors. In between are thousands of words for students, business people, homemakers, doctors, truck drivers, retired people… everyone!

FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary, where learning can take place.

There are 50 levels in all, but it is rare for people to get above level 48.

For its first seven weeks, FreeRice gave 10 grains of rice for each correct answer. On November 28, 2007, we were able to increase this to 20 grains. We hope to be able to increase this again in the future. Here is how we look at it: Your part is to play and donate the rice. Our part is to increase the amount you can donate!

The rice you donate makes a huge difference to the person who receives it. According to the United Nations, about 25,000 people die each day from hunger or hunger-related causes, most of them children. To a mother or father watching a loved child die in their arms from hunger, the rice you donate is more precious than anything in the world.

NOW, go get some FREE RICE and INCREASE your VOCABULARY at the same time!

As I promised the students, NO HOMEWORK tonight. They did, however, start on the work listed below that will be due on Thursday.However, ALL Math classes should have HW tonight. Some students may have finished them in class.1. Ruskin Reads - 30 minutes

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month: MOST PAGES READRemember: read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class...and ADD UP THE PAGES YOU HAVE READ!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Although President Obama has already been sworn in as the President of the United States (it was done on Sunday by noon to be in compliance with the Constitution), the public ceremony will be done on Monday.

From the site: "A young boy grows up in a time of segregation…A dreamer is moved by destiny into leadership of the modern civil rights movement…This was Martin Luther King, Jr. Come hear his story, visit the home of his birth, and where he played as a child. Walk in his footsteps, and hear his voice in the church where he moved hearts and minds. Marvel at how he was an instrument for social change."

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee: Housed at The Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. King's assassination, the museum aims to chronicle the key episodes of the American civil rights movement as well as its legacy. Linked is the portal to its Kids' Page.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Monument in Washington, D.C. In the background is the "mountain of despair" from which he emerges. (from Wikipedia)

The saying on the side of the monument which came from his famous "I have a dream" speech. (from Wikipedia)

In a few weeks, we will be reading a story titled, Happy Birthday, Dr. King, which will briefly connect a grandfather's remembrance of Dr. King's efforts to his grandson's fight with a classmate (and subsequent discipline) to sit in the back of the bus.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Ms. Phan, Daniel's mother, has volunteered to teach a group of EIGHT girls how to perform a Vietnamese dance routine, which they will present to the Ruskin community at our forthcoming Lunar New Year celebration. Previous dance experience preferred but not required.

If your child is interested, she needs to notify me ASAP since practices will be starting VERY soon.

January 31 vs. Seattle University - Currently ranked first in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), though they will be a tough out for the Lady Spartans, they will be exciting to watch.

March 2 vs. Louisiana Tech - The Lady Techsters have a storied tradition in women's college basketball and this year will be no different from the others as they compete for first place. This successful program has competed in 13 Final Fours, 23 Sweet Sixteens, and 27 NCAA tournaments. "LA Tech" is one of only two schools to have amassed 1,000 victories (Tennessee is the other). Their head coach, Teresa Weatherspoon, is an alumnus of the university; won a National Championship as a player there; and won a Gold Medal as a member of the US Olympic Team in 1988 among other accomplishments.

The SAP Open Kids Day Committee along with USTA is sponsoring an essay contest.

See the guidelines below:

ESSAY CONTEST

Twelve (12) lucky students will be
chosen to win a Yonex Tennis racquet and other prizes, which will be awarded
during the event. These students will also be invited to arrive early and
participate in tennis drills with the pros as part of the event. Essays are
limited to one page and should be based on one of the topics listed below:

1. Why is living a healthy lifestyle important, and
how does tennis play a role in it?

2. Why is sportsmanship important in the sport of
tennis?

3. A tennis player you admire
and why?

Since the deadline for all
essays is Friday, January 25, 2013, I will need to read and select the two (2) best essays no later than Wednesday, January 23, 2013. They will then be mailed to the SAP Open Kids Day headquarters. If someone is chosen, they will notify me and the honoree will be celebrated during the SAP Open Kids Day event on Friday, February 15.

One student from my class won a Yonex Tennis racquet two years ago, so it is possible!

Friday, January 11, 2013

"Reading Is Cool" Goal of the Month: MOST PAGES READRemember to read your Accelerated Reader (ZPD) Book and take the Quiz in class!

7. My Math Class - Topic 11 Test on Thursday, 1/17

-- Textbook pgs. 279-280

-- Workbook pgs. 161-162

NOTES:

The Friday math quiz results were not good (average = 5.5) so I have assigned some review lessons on Tenmarks.com. Your child received his/her log-in and password for the the website. Please make sure that they find time to practice the lessons this weekend and through next week. (EDIT: I will have the students re-take the quiz this Tuesday: same problems, different numbers. Higher grade "sticks" and the lower grade is tossed out.)

Problems that were missed by most:

Incorrectly identifying place values in the tenths and hundredths place